Sadler to Skip Saturday's Busch Race Due to Injury

MOORESVILLE, NC (July 28)-Heeding the advice of his doctors, Elliott Sadler has decided not to compete in this weekend's NASCAR Busch Series race at Gateway International Raceway.

The Winston Cup rookie had planned to drive the No. 35 SCANA/Powertel Chevrolet for Team Amick Motorsports in the Carquest Auto Parts 250 on Saturday in St. Louis.

Instead, Sadler will now focus on recovering from the foot injury he suffered during a crash at the Pocono Raceway last Saturday.

In that accident, Sadler hit the top of his left foot on the clutch pedal when his CITGO Ford slammed the outside wall during Bud Second-Round Qualifying.

X-rays revealed no broken bones, but doctors believe some muscle tissue and tendon damage did occur, and the foot is still very swollen and tender.

Sadler says the decision to withdraw from the race was a difficult one to make, but after talking with his doctors, he feels it's better to be safe than sorry.

"I feel like I could drive this weekend," Sadler says, "but if I were to get out there and injure my foot again, it could be a lot worse this time. I just don't want to risk doing more damage to it, especially not with one of the biggest races of the year coming up."

With the Winston Cup Series taking a weekend off, Sadler and his doctors believe his foot should have plenty of time to heal before the trip to Indianapolis.

"My goal is to be at 100 percent by the time the Brickyard 400 comes up," says Sadler. "As much as I enjoy racing in the Busch Series, I don't want to do anything to jeopardize my chances at Indy."

In the wake of Sadler's decision, Team Amick Motorsports announced Wednesday that Lyndon Amick would assume driving duties for this weekend's event.

Amick, who has driven the No. 35 in 14 races this season, was already scheduled to pilot the Team Amick entry in the Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park on August 6th.

"The whole team understands and supports Elliott's decision," says Amick. "I know how hard it is for someone to make a decision not to drive. I hate it that I'm taking over the driver's seat under these circumstances, but we know he'll be back soon."

Sadler now hopes to make his debut in the No. 35 at the August 21st Pepsi 200 at the Michigan Speedway. Plans call for him to drive the SCANA/Powertel Chevy in the nine Busch Series events that follow the Michigan date.